Soundproof folding partition



Jan. l5, 1929.

C. J. THYE s oUNDPRooF FOLDING PARTITION /M f my m f m Filed April 13,192.7

Patented Jan. 15, 1929.

UNITED v'STATES .CARL.J'. THYE, OF ST. LOUIS COUNTYrMISSOURYI.

SOUNDPROOF FOLDING PARTITION.

Application led April 13, 1927.

This invention relates to soundproot told ing partitions, designed andadapted for use as movable partitions to term walls to `provideseparated compartments, or to be moved away to torni a singlecompartment ot' two or more.

An object of lthe invention is 'to provide an improved partitiondesigned and adapted tor the uses and purposes stated, and comprisingfoldable sections which may be extended to torincomplete partitions, orfolded to permit easy removal ot the partitions.

Another object ot the invention is to provide an improved mounting torthe part-itions, the same comprising a track attached to the head in thewall, and rollers in connection with the paitition operating on saidtrack and supporting the partition and permitting movement oil thepartition to vand from positions tor use. `Other objects willappeartronithe following description, reference being made 'to the drawing, inwhich,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing one complete section and theconnection tliereotwith other sections of my improved partition.

2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 3-3 ot Fig. 1.

Each section of my improved partition comprises i'rame composed ofvertical side members 1, a horizontal top member 2 connet-ting the upperends ot' thc side members, and a horizontal lower end member 3connecting the lower ends orn the vertical side members 1. In instanceswhere useful or desirable, a horizontal member 4 connecting the verticalside members 1 approximately midway between the upper `member 2and thelower member 3 may be provided.

To each side ot the traine thus constructed panels 5 are attached, the'same forming 'the confined space 6. Border strips 7 may be fastenedalong opposite sides of each vertical edge ot each section to overlapthe edges of the panels 5 and the laterallyT extended p0rtions oi thevertical traine members 1 (Fig. to im )reve the appearance ot eachsection and to assist in holding the parts in proper relationship. rossstrips 8 may be provided to close the joint between the upper and lowerpanels 5 and to provide additional strength tor the intermediate portionof each partition section. Similar cross str-ips 9 maybe attached to theupper end of each partition Serial No, 183,303.

section, tlieupper edges'of said strips 9 being below the upper edge ofthe upper trame member To .each strip '9 a horizontal strip 1Y0 1sconnected by hinges 11, the Apivots ont which are outwardly beyond thesurfaces oi the strips 9 and 10, so that, when the strips 10 are raisedto position in vertical continuation of the strips 9, -they will remain'in such position, as :is clearly lapparent from Fig. 2. To. the-upper'edge of each of the strips y9 an ornamental piece 12 Vis securedand to the upper edges ot the strips 1'0-and the piece 12 a strip 13 oftelt or ot-lier sound insulating material is secured. i

Near the lower end of leach partition section a transverse strip 14 Iisattached, the lower edges of the strip `14: being above the lower end oteach partition section. To the lower edge ot 'each of the strips 14 afinishing strip 1'5 is connected by hinges 16, the pivots of which areoutwardly beyond -t-he surfaces ot' the strips Hand 15, so that, whenthe strips I5 are raised to vertical positions, against the outer sidesvof 'the strips 14, they will be supported insuch positions. 4To thelower edge of each of the strips 15 an ornamental finishing strip '17gis attached and to the lower'edges vof the strips '15 and 17 a strip 18of telt or similar sound insulating -may terial is secured.

A number `of sections thus constructed may be vconnected along theirvertical edges by hinges 19 and the adjacent Vvertical ledges ot thepartition sections may vbe provided or covered with strips 2O of yteltor similar sound insulating material, so that, when lt-he sections `areextended to form a partition, a sound deadening or insulating Wall isproduced.

This partition comprising any number of sections connected by hinges 19,as described, is designed and adapted to -b'e supported or lateralmovement to and from position for use. As shown, Veach section has oneor more trucks attached to its upper end. These trucks are oit knownconstruction, each coinprising a pair ofwh'eels 21 in connection wit-lia trame 22, which frame '22 Vis attached to the upper partition framemember 2 at a proper location. A track 23 slotted and flanged along itslower side, as is well known, 'is attached to the head i241 secured inthe wall in which the partition 'is to ne mounted for operation. TheV-required number 'of vsections may be provided to form 'a 'completewall across any room and these sections may be moved to and fromposition along the traclr 23. The track 23 may be curved toperniitthesections of which each partition is composed to move to different placesfoi'ciise. 1When it is desired to move the partitions to or fromposition for use, the parts 1() are folded downwardly against the outersides of the strips 9 so as to permit easy movement of the partitions.When the partition is moved to position for use, the strips 10 arefolded upwardly to pla-ce the sound deadening or insulating elements 13against the head 2a. Similarly, when the partition is to be moved fromone place to another, the strips 15 are folded upwardly against theouter sides of the strips 11i. And, when the partition is placed foruse, the strips 15 are folded downwardly to place the sound deadeniiigor insulating parts 18 against the inclined port-ions of av base element25. rllhis element Q5 may be composed of metal or other material and ispreferably provided with a channel or groove 26 in which projections 27form the lower edge of the lower frame member 3 operate to guide thepartition when it is moved from one place to another and to retain it inproper adjustment when inany position.

From the foregoing it will be seen that my improved partition is capableof application to all of the'uses herein suggested and to c other usesapparent from the foregoing description. It is specially adapted for usein churches and other buildings wherein it is often desired -to changethe dimensions of rooms, or to divide a large room into a number ofsmall rooms, or to form a large room out of a number of small rooms bythrowing all of the rooms together. It is obvious that the constructionand arrangements of the parts may be varied within comparatively widelimits and that selected materials may be used without departure fromthe nature and principle of the invention. I contemplate all suchvariations as may be required to adapt the invention for its variousintended purposes and, without restricting myself in any essentialparticulars, what claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent ist- 1. Apartition comprising a. wall section, means for suspending the wallsection for lateral edgewise movements, a movable strip at the upper endof said section, and hinges conpecting said strip with saidV section andhaving their pivots outwardly beyond the outer surfaces of said stripand said section for supporting'said section vertically in continuationof the surface of said wall section.

2. A partition comprising a wall section, means for suspending the wallsection for lateral edgewise movements,a movable strip at the upper endof said section, hinges conneet-ing said strip with said section andhaving their pivots outwardly beyond the outer surfaces of said stripsand said sect-ion for supporting said section vertically in continuationof the surface of said wall section, a strip for the lower end of saidwall section, and hinges supporting said last named strip in connectionwith the lower end of said sec- 'tion having their pivots outwardlybeyond the outer surfaces of said strip and said section.

3. A partition comprising a wall section, means for suspending the wallsection for lateral edgewise movements, a movable strip at theupper endof said section, hinges connecting said strip with said section andhaving their pivots outwardly beyond the outer surfaces of said stripand said'section for supporting said section vertically in continuationof the surface of said wall section, and means for guiding the lower endof said section when said section is moved edgewise laterally.

Ll. A' partition comprising awall sect-ion, means for suspending thewall section for lateral edgewise movements, a movable strip at theupper end of said section, hinges connecting said strip with saidsection and having their pivots outwardly beyond the outer surfaces ofsaid strip and said section for support-ing said section vertically incontinuation of the surface of said wall section, a strip for the lowerend of said wall section, hinges supporting said last named strip inconnection with the lower end of said section having their pivotsoutwardly beyond the outer surfaces of said strip and said section, andmeans for guiding the lower end of said section when said section ismoved edgewise laterally.

5. A folding partition co-mprising a numl er of wall sections havingadjacent vertical edges, hinges connecting the adjacent vertical edgesof the respective sections, means for suspending t-lie several sectionsfor lateral edgewise movements to and from positions for use, and ahorizontal strip hinged to the upper portion of each section andarranged to swing upwardly from a suspended position to position incontinuation of the side surface of each section.

(i. A folding partition comprising a number of wall sections havingadjacent vertical edges, hinges connecting the adjacent vertical edgesof the respective sections, means for suspending the several sectionsfor lateral edgewisc movements to and from positions for use, and ahorizont-al strip hinge l to the lower portion of each section andarranged to be swunoj upwardly from position in. continuation of theside of the respective sections to position against the outer side ofeach section.

7. A folding partition comprising a number of Wall sections havingadjacent vertical edges, hinges connecting the adjacent vertical edgesof the respective sections, means forsuspending the several sections forlateral edgewisemovements'to and from posi- Cil tions for use, ahorizontal strip hinged to the upper portion of each section andarranged to swing upwardly from a suspended position to position incontinuation of the side surface o'l each section, and a horizontalstrip hinged to the lower portion of each section and arranged to beswung upwardly from position in continuation oit the side ot' therespective sections to position against the outer side ot each section.

8. A pa-rtition section, means tor suspending said partition section forlateral edgewise movements to and from position for use as a partition,and a` horizontal strip hinged to the upper portion of said section ateach side. thereotl and movable from suspended position to upwardlyextended position in continuation of the surfaces of said section.

9. A partition section, means for suspending said partition section forlateral edge-v wise movements to and from position :tor use as apartition, and a horizontal strip hinged to each side near the lower endof said section and movable from vertical position in continuation ofthe surfaces of said section to upright position against the surfaces ofsaid sect-ion.

10. A partition section, means for suspending said partit-ion sectionfor lateral edgewise movements to and from position for use as apartition, a horizontal strip hinged to the upper portion of saidsection at each side thereof and movable from suspended position toupwardly extended position in continuation of the surfaces of saidsection, and a horizontal strip hinged to each side near the lower endof said section and movable from vertical position in continuation ofthe surfaces ot said Vsection to upright position against the surfacesof said section.

CARL J. THYE.

